On Friday, January 26th, 2024, G.A.S. Lagos hosted an evening dedicated to the fusion of art and blockchain technology. Initiated by our Economists in Residence, Victor Svensson and Eric Oetterli, it brought together a panel of contributors, including specialized artists, and practitioners, working with blockchain from the Nigerian space. Together, the panel explored the opportunities within their ecosystem that can be leveraged in artistic practices.

This segment spotlights individuals at G.A.S. who have independently taken the initiative to procure funding for a Nigerian residency experience. With varying motivations like a desire to connect with the African continent, or a specific curiosity about the residency program at G.A.S., our independent residency program has attracted individuals from the Nigerian and wider African diaspora. 

Stockholm School of Economics is kicking off our 2024 calendar year at G.A.S. Foundation with a dual residency for two bachelor's thesis students. Victor Svensson and Eric Oetterli, SSE students of Retail Management, are in residence at G.A.S. this January, conducting research on cryptocurrency adoption in Nigeria. They are recipients of the Yinka Shonibare Thesis Scholarship, launched in cooperation with Art Initiative and Misum, Mistra Center for Sustainable Markets. The scholarship gives SSE students the opportunity to do a field study on-site in Nigeria. This is the sophomore edition of the scholarship residencies, with the first pair of recipients being Alexei Moore and Miranda Hagborg, who were in residence at G.A.S. in May 2023.

In our final event for the year 2023, G.A.S. Lagos was pleased to host 7 Speakers 7 Minutes, a dynamic lecture series exploring new directions in Nigerian design. Initiated by Chuka Ihonor of 9h Design Talk, in partnership with Open House Lagos, seven acclaimed figures from architecture, product design, art, and art history each took the stage for a lightning-fast, seven-minute talk. 

The evening opened up with Lani Adeoye of Studio Lani, who shared highlights from her design portfolio, highlighting how indigenous design staples have played a central role in her processes, followed up by Stefanie Adisa who shared visionary urban landscapes, highlighting silhouettes and materiality across designs. Charlotte Langhorst's lecture came from the intimate perspective of the end-user of a dynamic piece of architecture. Each speaker, in their own distinct voice, showcased a facet of the city's vibrant design DNA: a fusion of tradition and innovation, a deep connection to community, and a bold spirit pushing boundaries.

G.A.S. Foundation entered the month of November rounding up the Lagos Art Tour itinerary, and welcoming 2023’s final residents, TK Smith, Elsa James, and Alberta Whittle. Curator and cultural historian, TK Smith, was the first to arrive in Lagos for a six-week stay supported by Barnes Foundation. After several days basking in Lagos' annual Art Week, TK was joined by Essex-based artist, filmmaker, researcher, and activist Elsa James and acclaimed Barbadian-Scottish artist Alberta Whittle. All three residents began a collaborative, travel-filled stay at G.A.S. with a group trip to Benin City diligently facilitated by G.A.S. Residency Co-ordinator, Adekunle Adeboye.